Editor’s Note: We updated this article for 2020. This is our sixth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Kansas City.
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Do you like your neighborhood?
Is it friendly, and where everyone knows their neighbors?
No matter if you live in the sticks or in an apartment building in downtown Kansas City, you have a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood is different.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits -- less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Kansas City neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Kansas City are the best. If you're in one of the places we're about to highlight, odds are you know you've got it made. So, if you're thinking of moving to Missouri and Kansas City is on the top of your list, check out our best neighborhoods to live in.
So what's the best neighborhood to live in Kansas City for 2020? According to the most recent census data, Armour Hills looks to be the best Kansas City neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Kansas City that deserve a little bragging rights or maybe you're interested in the worst neighborhoods in Kansas City.
Once you're done, you can look at the bottom of the story for a complete chart of every neighborhood we looked at from best to worst.
For more Missouri reading, check out:
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Kansas City

Population: 2,422
Rank Last Year: 2 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $240,700 (15th best)
Median Income: $103,120 (Eighth best)
More on Armour Hills: Homes For Sale | Data
Armour Hills is a neighborhood located in Kansas City, Missouri. It is bounded on the west by Brookside Road, on the north by 65th Street, on the east by Oak Street and the south by Gregory Boulevard. The name of this area derives from the fact that the land was owned by members of the Armour family of the Armour and Company.
Population: 2,107
Rank Last Year: 1 (Down 1)
Median Home Value: $424,200 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $138,553 (Fifth best)
More on Arnour Fields: Homes For Sale | Data

Population: 3,722
Rank Last Year: 7 (Up 4)
Median Home Value: $189,450 (27th best)
Median Income: $81,157 (18th best)
More on Ward Parkway: Homes For Sale | Data
Ward Parkway is a boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, near the Kansas-Missouri state line. Ward Parkway begins at Brookside Boulevard on the eastern edge of the Country Club Plaza and continues westward along Brush Creek as U.S. Route 56 until it turns southward across the creek just before the Kansas-Missouri state line. It then continues south for four miles, terminating at Wornall Road near West 95th Street.
Population: 750
Rank Last Year: 6 (Up 2)
Median Home Value: $306,900 (Tenth best)
Median Income: $129,773 (Sixth best)
More on Wornall Homestead: Homes For Sale | Data

Population: 1,618
Rank Last Year: 5 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $255,250 (12th best)
Median Income: $103,750 (Seventh best)
More on Morningside: Homes For Sale | Data
Population: 706
Rank Last Year: 11 (Up 5)
Median Home Value: $329,900 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $102,917 (Ninth best)
More on Romanelli West: Homes For Sale | Data
Population: 5,882
Rank Last Year: 18 (Up 11)
Median Home Value: $167,440 (40th best)
Median Income: $69,114 (25th best)
More on Tower Homes: Homes For Sale | Data
Population: 4,523
Rank Last Year: 38 (Up 30)
Median Home Value: $187,420 (29th best)
Median Income: $50,188 (46th best)
More on Volker: Homes For Sale | Data
Population: 907
Rank Last Year: 26 (Up 17)
Median Home Value: $248,700 (14th best)
Median Income: $91,319 (11th best)
More on Westwood: Homes For Sale | Data
Population: 3,939
Rank Last Year: 19 (Up 9)
Median Home Value: $196,200 (24th best)
Median Income: $60,529 (32nd best)
More on West Plaza: Homes For Sale | Data
How We Determined The Best Kansas City, MO Neighborhoods In 2020
In order to rank the best neighborhoods in Kansas City, we had to determine what criteria defines a "best".
Using crime, census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 143 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index the "Best City Neighborhood In Kansas City." We're lookin' at you, Armour Hills.
Read on below to learn more about what it's like to live in the best places Kansas City, Missouri has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city from best to worst.
Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Kansas City
If you're measuring the neighborhoods in Kansas City where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
As we mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Kansas City aren't all good. North Blue Ridge takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Kansas City.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more Missouri reading, check out:
Detailed List Of The Best Neighborhoods To Live In Kansas City For 2020
Rank |
Neighborhood |
Population |
Home Value |
Median Income |
1 |
Armour Hills |
2,422 |
$240,700 |
$103,120 |
2 |
Arnour Fields |
2,107 |
$424,200 |
$138,553 |
3 |
Ward Parkway |
3,722 |
$189,450 |
$81,157 |
4 |
Wornall Homestead |
750 |
$306,900 |
$129,773 |
5 |
Morningside |
1,618 |
$255,250 |
$103,750 |
6 |
Romanelli West |
706 |
$329,900 |
$102,917 |
7 |
Tower Homes |
5,882 |
$167,440 |
$69,114 |
8 |
Volker |
4,523 |
$187,420 |
$50,188 |
9 |
Westwood |
907 |
$248,700 |
$91,319 |
10 |
West Plaza |
3,939 |
$196,200 |
$60,529 |
11 |
Stanford Gardens |
930 |
$484,300 |
$200,973 |
12 |
Country Lane Estates |
1,971 |
$155,100 |
$53,150 |
13 |
South Plaza |
2,537 |
$343,967 |
$56,995 |
14 |
Verona Hills |
2,013 |
$253,250 |
$90,614 |
15 |
Central Business District-Downtown |
4,364 |
$191,233 |
$52,423 |
16 |
Faireway Hills |
2,302 |
$112,800 |
$64,853 |
17 |
Western 49-63 |
4,533 |
$225,120 |
$82,382 |
18 |
Greenway Fields |
633 |
$484,300 |
$200,973 |
19 |
Roanoke |
484 |
$356,000 |
$51,179 |
20 |
White Oak |
2,673 |
$111,000 |
$60,611 |
21 |
Union Hill |
865 |
$230,750 |
$58,514 |
22 |
Oak Meyer Gardens |
856 |
$232,500 |
$73,942 |
23 |
Holmes Park |
1,247 |
$179,500 |
$60,385 |
24 |
Crown Center |
759 |
$200,033 |
$55,006 |
25 |
Highview Estates |
2,603 |
$203,567 |
$73,725 |
26 |
Blue Hills Estates |
1,520 |
$224,800 |
$53,319 |
27 |
Unity Ridge |
513 |
$315,700 |
$101,023 |
28 |
Coleman Highlands |
709 |
$218,800 |
$71,964 |
29 |
Birdlespur |
1,364 |
$168,650 |
$89,478 |
30 |
Mission Lake |
3,622 |
$195,400 |
$86,398 |
31 |
Saint Catherine's Gardens |
2,573 |
$119,000 |
$62,102 |
32 |
Sunset Hill West |
321 |
$975,250 |
$250,001 |
33 |
Southmoreland |
3,638 |
$168,080 |
$42,346 |
34 |
Central Hyde Park |
1,317 |
$286,650 |
$72,761 |
35 |
Timber Valley |
371 |
$174,000 |
$88,198 |
36 |
West Waldo |
1,321 |
$138,900 |
$63,846 |
37 |
Lea Manor |
2,044 |
$150,100 |
$68,181 |
38 |
Waldo Homes |
1,554 |
$116,950 |
$49,802 |
39 |
Red Bridge North |
926 |
$168,150 |
$83,325 |
40 |
Red Ridge South |
2,757 |
$171,350 |
$43,766 |
41 |
Valentine |
1,163 |
$155,950 |
$40,567 |
42 |
Ward Parkway Plaza |
471 |
$148,100 |
$71,635 |
43 |
Blue Vue Hills |
1,722 |
$146,300 |
$66,875 |
44 |
Sunset Hill |
921 |
$597,200 |
$150,641 |
45 |
River Market |
523 |
$228,900 |
$51,654 |
46 |
Kirkside |
1,722 |
$85,700 |
$35,417 |
47 |
Fairwood And Robandee |
4,215 |
$71,000 |
$41,973 |
48 |
Plaza Westport |
1,071 |
$182,150 |
$48,530 |
49 |
Western Hills |
1,837 |
$133,550 |
$52,030 |
50 |
Royal Oaks |
1,691 |
$147,200 |
$44,514 |
51 |
Willow Creek |
3,235 |
$75,567 |
$37,555 |
52 |
Robandee South |
1,846 |
$83,800 |
$43,036 |
53 |
Bannister Ares |
1,437 |
$112,200 |
$50,651 |
54 |
Stayton Meadows |
2,471 |
$87,533 |
$50,858 |
55 |
South Hyde Park |
1,981 |
$139,000 |
$40,098 |
56 |
Eastern 49-63 |
3,124 |
$106,033 |
$39,164 |
57 |
Little Blue Valley |
4,414 |
$181,600 |
$71,172 |
58 |
Squier Park |
897 |
$143,200 |
$44,792 |
59 |
Old Westport |
964 |
$181,500 |
$42,910 |
60 |
Rolling Meadows |
525 |
$137,900 |
$57,625 |
61 |
Santa Fe Hills |
2,175 |
$72,133 |
$43,164 |
62 |
Park Farms |
3,487 |
$98,850 |
$43,396 |
63 |
North India Mound |
4,849 |
$50,683 |
$35,163 |
64 |
Hanover Place |
2,914 |
$88,133 |
$30,502 |
65 |
Longfellow |
2,007 |
$172,850 |
$29,178 |
66 |
Martin City |
1,046 |
$188,200 |
$48,989 |
67 |
Bonne Hills |
1,863 |
$104,833 |
$49,970 |
68 |
Fairlane |
5,116 |
$85,875 |
$46,617 |
69 |
South India Mound |
4,007 |
$55,220 |
$30,911 |
70 |
Citadel |
1,514 |
$90,350 |
$41,866 |
71 |
Sarritt Point |
3,592 |
$66,083 |
$29,106 |
72 |
Linden Hills And Indian Heights |
2,305 |
$124,967 |
$48,461 |
73 |
Hickman Mills South |
1,596 |
$74,100 |
$42,446 |
74 |
South Town Fork Creek |
1,262 |
$55,200 |
$32,522 |
75 |
East Meyer |
4,625 |
$76,560 |
$35,925 |
76 |
Eastwood Hill East |
3,732 |
$73,975 |
$35,776 |
77 |
Foxtown East |
901 |
$48,400 |
$42,372 |
78 |
North Hyde Park |
1,649 |
$164,900 |
$21,453 |
79 |
Bleheim Square-Research Hospital |
1,652 |
$66,000 |
$23,264 |
80 |
Sterling Acres |
912 |
$105,800 |
$46,125 |
81 |
Ruskin Heights |
4,718 |
$52,775 |
$35,841 |
82 |
Westside North |
1,466 |
$154,950 |
$31,394 |
83 |
Swope Park Campus |
1,527 |
$58,650 |
$29,629 |
84 |
West Blue Valley |
2,281 |
$46,100 |
$22,986 |
85 |
West Blue Township |
713 |
$76,400 |
$41,159 |
86 |
Broadway Gillham |
898 |
$103,850 |
$29,974 |
87 |
Hillcrest |
1,193 |
$83,800 |
$32,350 |
88 |
Ashland Ridge |
1,348 |
$74,900 |
$30,375 |
89 |
Loma Vista |
1,897 |
$78,650 |
$31,312 |
90 |
Oak Park Southwest |
2,096 |
$19,150 |
$33,735 |
91 |
Oak Park Southeast |
1,754 |
$49,800 |
$34,078 |
92 |
Beacon Hills |
675 |
$111,850 |
$32,104 |
93 |
Wendell Phillips |
1,485 |
$90,167 |
$20,620 |
94 |
Cunningham Ridge |
280 |
$76,400 |
$41,159 |
95 |
Palestine East |
1,304 |
$34,100 |
$24,810 |
96 |
Ruskin Hills |
2,775 |
$66,650 |
$37,740 |
97 |
Oak Park Northwest |
2,913 |
$48,300 |
$24,219 |
98 |
Richards Gebaur |
1,338 |
$97,833 |
$32,605 |
99 |
Stanford Estates |
1,954 |
$82,350 |
$43,164 |
100 |
Oldham Farms |
1,012 |
$66,700 |
$39,920 |
101 |
Hickman Mills |
3,570 |
$88,900 |
$37,115 |
102 |
Swope Parkway-Elmwood |
2,541 |
$67,933 |
$31,053 |
103 |
Westside South |
1,302 |
$106,033 |
$40,769 |
104 |
Vineyard |
2,003 |
$59,000 |
$27,635 |
105 |
Linwood Homeowner-Ivanhoe |
1,346 |
$56,500 |
$21,750 |
106 |
Oakwood |
1,634 |
$85,500 |
$26,012 |
107 |
Country Valley-Hawthorn Square |
340 |
$158,500 |
$45,549 |
108 |
Riss Lake |
2,524 |
$93,600 |
$27,335 |
109 |
Blue Hills |
5,148 |
$59,229 |
$31,826 |
110 |
Self Help Neighborhood Council |
1,805 |
$49,800 |
$20,620 |
111 |
Brown Estates |
890 |
$84,700 |
$41,351 |
112 |
Lewis Heights |
712 |
$93,900 |
$37,159 |
113 |
Manheim Park |
1,508 |
$52,650 |
$25,860 |
114 |
Marlborough Heights-Marlborough Pride |
2,591 |
$33,080 |
$26,330 |
115 |
Pendleton Heights |
2,880 |
$95,775 |
$18,347 |
116 |
Mount Hope |
326 |
$38,000 |
$16,500 |
117 |
Santa Fe |
2,168 |
$43,525 |
$23,036 |
118 |
Lykins |
3,734 |
$40,412 |
$21,625 |
119 |
Legacy East |
2,010 |
$46,500 |
$29,784 |
120 |
Vineyard Northwest |
797 |
$42,700 |
$19,862 |
121 |
Eastwood Hills West |
1,396 |
$66,950 |
$33,166 |
122 |
Indipendence Plaza |
2,338 |
$68,020 |
$24,060 |
123 |
Hidden Valley |
933 |
$86,300 |
$24,615 |
124 |
Ingleside |
948 |
$52,525 |
$30,750 |
125 |
Ivanhoe Northeast |
761 |
$50,300 |
$25,588 |
126 |
Palestine West And Oak Park Northeast |
563 |
$45,200 |
$41,050 |
127 |
Central Blue Valley-Park Tower Grade |
1,419 |
$51,750 |
$14,866 |
128 |
Key Coalition |
1,208 |
$71,500 |
$14,444 |
129 |
East Community Team South |
2,736 |
$24,860 |
$20,194 |
130 |
Norble And Gregory Ridge |
1,704 |
$37,400 |
$35,777 |
131 |
North Town Fork Creek |
2,904 |
$61,040 |
$27,828 |
132 |
Sheffield |
2,161 |
$48,050 |
$17,559 |
133 |
Washington Weatley |
1,837 |
$59,333 |
$27,573 |
134 |
East Community Team North |
2,816 |
$49,200 |
$23,342 |
135 |
Blue Valley Industrial |
964 |
$36,500 |
$24,398 |
136 |
East Blue Valley |
1,595 |
$47,650 |
$24,536 |
137 |
Knoches Park |
1,499 |
$33,833 |
$22,604 |
138 |
Marlborough East |
1,265 |
$46,600 |
$21,160 |
139 |
East Sqope Highlands |
833 |
$86,500 |
$29,668 |
140 |
Ivanhoe Southeast |
1,528 |
$42,750 |
$21,210 |
141 |
Northest Industrial District |
157 |
$18,000 |
$26,500 |
142 |
South Blue Valley |
1,992 |
$25,500 |
$22,281 |
143 |
North Blue Ridge |
71 |
$45,400 |
$21,078 |